Let’s transform Year of Return to Era of Investments – Tiwala Chairman

The Chairman of the Tiwala group of companies Mr. Wisdom King Adukpo has lauded the government of Ghana for the year of return initiative which was launched in September 2018 by President Akuffo Addo. The launch which took place in the US went viral with a documentary of the program airing on CNN, BBC and some major news outlets across the world. 

The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” is a major landmark marketing campaign targeting the African – American and Diaspora Market to mark 400 years of the first enslaved African arriving in Jamestown Virginia.

Addressing a group of young entrepreneurs at the launch of his social media entrepreneur’s platform, Mr Wisdom King expressed joy at the success of the year of return and encouraged those present to take advantage of the initiative and transform it into an era of investment. 

“The world’s attention is on Ghana for all the right reasons, my checks at the Ministry of Tourism reveals that the year of return has drastically increased tourism inflow into the country. Data from the Year of return Secretariat in Accra indicate that the first nine months of 2019 recorded 80,862 more arrivals from the United States of America (USA), Britain (UK) and other key target nations than the figure recorded the previous year. The figures show that in-bound airport arrivals from the USA increased by 26 per cent (17,455) and the UK by 24 per cent (9,812). Total airport arrivals have increased by 45 per cent (237,088), compared to last year” He disclosed.

Touching on this development, Mr. Wisdom averred that the basic ingredient for every investment is Trust, and encouraged Ghanaians to immediately take advantage of the trust the country has earned through the patronage of the year of return. 

“To us at Tiwala, Trust means a lot; The name Tiwala is a Filipino word meaning Trust. We go out of our way to constantly create an atmosphere of trust to enable us run multiple successful businesses. The value of the trust that the year of return has created for the country must not be made to die. We must be intentional in driving this trust to investment opportunities for the country and its citizens” He stated.

He encouraged the government and the organizers of the event to partner with organizations such as the African Trade and Investment Global Services (ATIGS) to include investment pitching events between the returnees and creative young entrepreneurs in the country. 

“Some of the returnees have the financial resources to invest in Ghana, most Ghanaian youths also have creative and workable business ideas, I believe it will be a wonderful idea to link such people together as business partners to create a micro-investment  system which will regularly be evaluated by ATIGS and the year of return secretariat to maintain the trust created by the secretariat. “

The Year of return have recorded some high-profile visitations, such as the Congressional Black Caucus, led by the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi; Bishop T. D. Jakes, an influential African-American preacher and motivational speaker; Kofi Kingston, Boris Kodjoe, with 110 of the most influential members of the African Diaspora, including supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Idris Elba, TV sports presenter Mike Hill  author Luvvie Ajayi, A. J. Johnson, and a lot more personalities.

“All the international media houses have had one news or the other about Ghana. The BBC did a feature; CNN has done one, Al Jazeera has also come up with a documentary and Vogue Magazine put out a special edition on Ghana. Let’s take this opportunity to transform part of the narrative to how the year of return has created a lot of micro and large-scale businesses in Ghana through Diaspora Investment” Mr. Wisdom said.